Presented here in the critical edition edited by Rebecca Harris-Warrick, which reinstates the original French version as conceived by Donizetti for its first performance at the Théâtre de l’Académie Royale de Musique in Paris in 1840 – La Favorite is an opera which is especially close to my heart.

«Quando tu andrai nelle Indie e nell’interno dell’Africa sentirai Il trovatore»
(letter from Verdi to his friend Opprandino Arrivabene, 2 May 1862)
«Taking a look back over this year,

To be conducting the Festival Verdi, which has been held at the Teatro Regio di Parma for twenty-two years to coincide with the birthday of Italy’s most emblematic composer, is in itself an honour.

To be back at my beloved Teatro di San Carlo in Naples and, what is more, with Il barbiere di Siviglia is pure delight.

Conducting what is perhaps the best-loved opera buffa in the repertoire is always a challenge.